Flush valves



April 2, 1963 L. E. BECKER FLUSH VALVES Filed Sept. 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! INVENTOR. LYMAN BECKER ATTORNEYS April 3 1.. E. BECKER 3,083,732

FLUSH VALVES Filed Sept. 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

LY MA N BECKER AT TORNEYS L. E. BECKER FLUSH VALVES April 2, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheel'. 3

Filed. Sept. 22, 1960 INVENTOR. LYMAN BECKER ATTORNEYS April 2, 1963 L. E. BECKER 3,033,732

FLUSH VALVES Filed Sept. 22. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

LY MAN BECKER ATTORNEYS 3,083,732 FLUSH VALVES Lyman E. Becker, 1M2 S. 33rd St., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 57,659 Galms. (Cl. 137-52414) My invention relates to flush valves, and more particularly to a valve that is automatically controlled.

The device serves a purpose as described in my United States Patent 2,947,323, and is primarily designed to control the flushing of a toilet, urinal, or the like at predetermined intervals, and is especially adaptable for use in public wash rooms.

it has long been desirable to provide an operator for valves of the differential pressure type wherein the valve is operated through operation of a pilot valve at predetermined intervals, say for example, at intervals of several minutes or more. This is especially true in flushing systems. Many flushing systems in use today use elaborate electrical systems. It has also long been considered desirable to use mechanical means for this operation. Some prior valve operators of this type have used the inlet pressure responsive systems to produce periodic opening of the main valve. Some of the problems encountered in connection wtih such mechanical operators are found in the fact that use of the inlet pressure causes gradual movement of the pressure responsive system with the attendant result that the pressure responsive linkage or system may produce a slight cracking of the pilot valve, without positively opening the same. in diiferential pressure valves the slight craclring of the pilot or relief valve may result in only a slight movement of the main valve away from its seat before the relief or pilot valve is again closed, which, of course, results in closing of the main valve without ever fully opening the An operation of this sort may result in cracking of the relief valve and main valve at extremely short time intervals which may be termed as chattering of the main valve. Also in a system of this type it is dhiicult to insure a predetermined time interval between successive openings of the main valve.

Accordingly, a primary purpose of the present invention is concerned with a periodic operating system for difierential pressure valves and which utilizes the pressure on the inlet side of the valve for the operation of the system, the system being so designed and arranged that so-called cracking of the pilot valve is impossible, the system producing full opening movement of the main valve during each opening and closing cycle and at the same time providing a pre-selected time interval between successive opening cycles of the system.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FlGURE l is a cross-sectional view of the valve and its control mechanism, in a closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the water under pressure circulating through a by-pass and raising the hydraulic piston in a cylinder against the spring pressure.

FIGURE 3 is a similar view to those as shown in FEGURES l and 2, showing the piston in the hydraulic cylinder released to permit the main valve to be opened due to a tilting and opening action of the pilot valve, and

IGURE 4 is a similar view as shown in FIGURE 3 with the main valve raised or open permitting the water to flush the fixture, and ready to return to th original position shown in FIGURE 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding elements throughout this specification and the several drawings. Referring now to the same, the character 1i) shows a valve housing having an inlet 11 for the Water,

$383,732 Patented Apr. 2, 1953 an outlet 12, and a cap portion 13, threadedly engaging the valve body it) at 14.

The cap 13 supports an inner housing section 15, with an outwardly extending flange 16 for contact with a pliable diaphragm 17, equipped with a by-pass port 17'. Section 15 clamps this diaphragm 17 against the seat 18 at the upper edge of the valve housing lower section It).

Diaphragm 17 divides the valve housing into an upper pressure chamber above the diaphragm, and a lower pressure chamber beneath the diaphragm. The water admitted through port 17' is adapted, when the upper chamber is filled, to force this diaphragm against its seat, due to the greater area of the diaphragm being exposed to the pressure in the upper chamber.

Centrally supported the diaphragm 17, is a valve 19 provided with a depending stem 20, and guides 21 extending downward from the diaphragm 17 and adapted to fit within the outlet 12. The stem 20 is equipped with a laterally disposed pin 22 engaging longitudinally disposed vertical slots 23, in a tubular member shown as 24, which telescopically encases the valve stem 20'.

The inlet '11 of the valve body ltl, is equipped with a by-pass 25, leading to the inlet side of a pressure chamber enclosure 26 provided with a cover 27, and attached to the inner face of a vertical Wall of a housing 23' as by means of screws 29.

The cover 27, and the enclosure 26, support a diaphragm 39 and are attached to one another by the rivets 31 as shown. The cover 27 is equipped with a bearing 32, shown extending outward therefrom, and the diaphragm 30 is urged away from the cover and toward the pressure from by-pass 25 by means of a conical spring 33.

The lower base of the housing 28, supports a hydraulic unit 34- in the form of a cylinder equipped with a piston 35, having a piston rod 36 extending outward and upward through a bearing 37. The piston 35 is urged downward by a conical spring shown as 33. The entire unit 34 is shown attached to the bottom plate of the enclosure 23 by means of the screws 39.

A horizontal shaft 49, supported by hearing plates 41 are attached to the vertical side wall of the enclosure 2%. This shaft 40, pivotally supports a rocker arm 42, having outwardly and oppositely extending arm portions 43 and 44, and an arm portion 45 extending at right angle to the arm portions 43 and 44. Member 4-5 is connected to the piston rod 36 by a link 46.

The diaphragm 30 in the enclosure 26 is attached to a stem 47 slidably guided by the bearing 32, forming an integral part of the cover 27. The stem 47 has an extension 48 pivotally connected therewith at 49, and held parallel with stem 47 by a resilient means shown as a spring 59, attached at 51 to the extension 48, and to the pivot shaft 49. The lower surface of the extension 43 is recessed at 52, and a roller 53 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the member 4'3 of the rocker arm 42, and contacts the lower surface of the extension 43, and is held in engagement therewith by the tension of the spring 59.

The lower arm 44 of the rocker arm 42 has a link 54 pivotally attached at 55, and the link 54- is pivotally attached at 56 to a pusher bar 57' slidably supported by a bearing 5% mounted on housing 59 which is attached to the valve housing 1% by means of the threaded collar 6 An abutment 61 has a plunger stem 62, disposed within the housing 59, and slidably supported at 63 by the valve housing It Abutment 61 is biased outwardly toward bar 57 by the tension of the spring 64 surrounding the stem 62.

The operation of the valve control is simple and positive. In FIGURE 1 I show the water supply entering 3 the valve body at the inlet 11, with the diaphragm 17 sealing the valve body at 18 and the pilot valve 19 in a downward or closed position.

The water supply entering the housing at the inlet 11, is permitted to enter the by-pass 25, leading to the enclosure 26, and exerts pressure against the diaphragm 30 in the enclosure 26, as shown in FIGURE 2, forcing the diaphragm 30 against the pressure of the spring 33, pushing the arm 47 outward, and causing rotation of the operating linkage in a clockwise direction. This causes initial withdrawal of plunger 62. When the linkage reaches the position of FIGURE 2, arm 42 starts its counterclockwise movement to eventually cause plunger 62 to move inward, contact extension 24, tilt pilot valve 19 to the open position and open the main valve.

In operation it should be noted that, as shown in FIG- URE 1, the arrangement is such that pilot valve 79 is held closed on its seat and with the extension 24 resting on plunger 62, thus preventing any slight cracking or tilting of the pilot valve 19 until the operating linkage is ready for opening cycle. As the pressure builds up in the pressure chamber of enclosure 26, the pressure responsive member or diaphragm 30 is gradually moved slowly towards the right, as in FIGURE 2, thereby producing attendant movement of the link 48, which during a predetermined range of this movement is disposed at an angle such that the recess 52 is held in contact with the follower roller 53, thus producing movement of the 'arm 42 in a clockwise direction and against the bias the spring 38 which opposes the outward movement of the plunger 62. As plunger 62 moves outward, extension 24 drops to the position of FIGURE 2. At the end of this predetermined range of movement, as when the dia phragm 30 is disposed in the position of FIGURE 2, the angle of the link 48 with respect to the link 43 is such that the shoulder 52a moves out of contact thereby allowing the roller 53 to roll along the lower surface of the link. A number of forces cooperate to bring this about. In the first place, the spring 38 is then under full compression, thereby asserting a maximum force tending to move the arm 42 in a counterclockwise direction. Also, at this point, the angular disposition of the link 48 is such that the force holding the shoulder against the roller 53 (the bias of spring 50) is no longer sufficient to hold this engagement.

Thus as the arm 42 moves counterclockwise under the influence of spring 38 which has, of course, sufficient strength to overcome the force of spring 64, the result is a slow movement of the plunger 62 inwardly towards the extension 24, which has been allowed to descend due to the withdrawal of the plunger 62. As the counterclockwise movement of arm 42 continues, the plunger 62 contacts the stem extension 24 thereby tilting pilot valve 19and relieving the pressure in the upper chamber and allowing the pressure on the inlet side of the main valve to raise the main valve away from the seat, as appears in FIGURE 3.

Once the main valve commences movement away from its seat, the pressure in the inlet chamber drops due to a release of this pressure through the valve outlet. The drop in pressure is such as to allow the spring 33 to return the pressure responsive member 30 to the position of FIGURE 1, where the mechanism is reset for another cycle, the roller 53 then being in engagement with shoulder 52a of link '48.

When the main valve is raised away from its seat to allow flushing of the valve, the extension 24 is disposed above the level of the plunger 62 and as the pressure bleeding through the bleed opening 17' gradually fills the upper chamber 15 and produces the descent of the main valve member, the extension 25 will come to rest upon the plunger 62, as appears in FIGURE 4, and thereby will be raised toward its upper position as the main valve resujmes its seat. It should be noted that the pressure in the upper chamber works against the pilot valve 19 and will be such that it will hold the pilot valve on its seat, notwithstanding the upward force on the relief valve due to the slight relative upward movement of the extension 24.

The pressure on the inlet side of the main valve remains lower than maximum until the main valve is closed upon its seat and at that time the pressure on the inlet side of the main valve is suflicient to cause a gradual pressure buildup in the chamber 26 to thereby produce a repetitive cycle.

It should be noted that the operation of the system is relatively slow, thus producing a predetermined time interval between successive flushings. After closing of the main valve, some period of time is necessary in order to produce the required pressure buildup in the chamber 26, which pressure buildup is opposed by the spring 38 and spring 33. Thus movement of the pressure responsive member 30 towards the right will be relatively slower and this initial movement, rather than producing any direct opening movement, simply allows withdrawal of the plunger 62. Opening movement can only commence after the roller 53 moves out of engagement will the shoulder 52a so as to allow movement of the linkage in the valve opening direction. This opening movement of the linkage is retarded by the hydraulic dashpot action of the piston 35, so that this movement itself produces a further time interval before the plunger 62 is extended far enough towards the extension 24 as to contact the same and produce positive opening of the relief valve 19. Dashpot 34 retards and slows movement both on the withdrawal of plunger 62 and the return thereof.

Chattering of the system is prevented by virtue of preventing tilting of the relief valve until the buildup of pressure in the chamber 26 has reached its maximum.

A number of Variables are possible with the system. For example, the time interval between successive flushings can be regulated by regulating the speed of movement of the piston 35, according to well-known dashpot regulating principles. Furthermore, the tension in the spring 33 may be made variable so as to vary the speed with which the diaphragm 30 moves fully to the right, as appears in FIGURE 2. The flow rate through by-pass 25 may also be varied to vary the time necessary to move diaphragm 30.

Whereas I have shown and described an operative form of the invention, it should be understood that this showing and description thereof should be taken in an illustrative and diagrammatic sense only. There are many modifications in and to the invention which will fall within the scope and spirit thereof and which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. An operating system for valves of the type having a .main valve member dividing a valve operating space into an inlet chamber and a second chamber opposed thereto and having means for admitting pressure from the inlet chamber to said second chamber whereby the pressure in said second chamber may hold said valve closed upon its seat, including an operating member adapted to unseat a pilot valve for said main valve so as to relieve the pressure in the second chamber of the main valve and allow opening of said main vallve, said operating member being mounted for movement toward and away from pilot valve opening position, means for biasing said member away from pilot valve opening position, a linkage having an actuating stem associated with said operating member and adapted upon movement in one direction to cause movement of said operating member toward pilot valve opening position, a pressure chamber adapted to be subjected to the pressure in the inlet chamber of said main valve and having a movable pressure responsive member therein adapted for movement in one direction in response to a buildup of pressure in said chamber, said linkage being interconnected with said pressure responsive member to cause movement of said stem away from pilot valve opening position in response to a buildup of pressure, means biasing said actuating stem toward pilot valve opening position, said linkage having a releasable connection with said pressure responsive member constructed and arranged so that movement of said pressure responsive member in said one direction produces movement of said actuating member opposite to the pilot valve opening direction while, upon release of said connection, said linkage produces reverse movement of said actuating member under the bias or" said means and in the pilot valve opening direction, and means retarding movement of the actuating member and said linkage.

2. A valve operating system for valves of the difierential pressure type having a movable valve member dividing a valve operating space into an inlet chamber and a pressure relief chamber through action of a relief valve positioned in the main valve member and adapted upon opening thereof to relieve pressure in said pressure relief chamber, the improvement comprising a depending operating stem for said relief valve, said stem being adapted upon tilting thereof to open said relief valve, said stern having an extension slidably mounted thereon for movement between an upper position and a lower position, a plunger adapted for sliding movement toward and away from said extension, means biasing said plunger away from said extension, said plunger being movable to a position beneath said extension so that said extension rests thereon when said extension is at its upper position and with the relief valve in closed position, outward movement of said plunger away from said extension allowing said extension to descend to its lower position whereby it may be contacted by said plunger for tilting of said stem and opening of said relief valve, means opposing movement of said plunger away from said relief valve, means responsive to the pressure on the inlet side of said main valve for gradually overpowering said opposing means and allowing withdrawal of said plunger and consequent descent of said extension and means for thereafter making said opposing means effective to cause movement of said plunger toward said extension and consequent operation of said relief valve to thereby open the same and allow opening of said main valve.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said pressure responsive means is rendered ineifective through opening of said main valve and a consequent drop of pressure in said inlet chamber, said opposing means being efifective to hold said plunger in its innermost position during closing of said main valve whereby said plunger is contacted by said extension during closing movement of said main valve, thereby moving said extension to its uppermost position.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said opposing means includes a linkage having a member mounted for contact with said plunger and resilient means biasing said linkage and thereby said plunger toward said extension, said means for thereafter making said opposing means elfective comprising a cam follower roller included in said linkage adapted for following contact with a link interconnected with said pressure responsive means, said link having a stepped abutment in contact with said follower roller so as to produce movement of said roller and said linkage in a direction away from said plunger in response to operation of said pressure responsive means, said link being mounted for angular movement during a predetermined range of movement of said roller and after said predetermined range to allow said roller to move out of contact with said abutment and thereby allow reverse movement of said linkage under the influence of said resilient means.

5. The structure of claim 2 characterized by and including a dashpot for retarding the speed of movement of said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,990 Nelson- Nov. 13, 1945 2,580,433 Kain Jan. 1, 1952 2,894,580 Becker July 14, 1959 

1. AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR VALVES OF THE TYPE HAVING A MAIN VALVE MEMBER DIVIDING A VALVE OPERATING SPACE INTO AN INLET CHAMBER AND A SECOND CHAMBER OPPOSED THERETO AND HAVING MEANS FOR ADMITTING PRESSURE FROM THE INLET CHAMBER TO SAID SECOND CHAMBER WHEREBY THE PRESSURE IN SAID SECOND CHAMBER MAY HOLD SAID VALVE CLOSED UPON ITS SEAT, INCLUDING AN OPERATING MEMBER ADAPTED TO UNSEAT A PILOT VALVE FOR SAID MAIN VALVE SO AS TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE IN THE SECOND CHAMBER OF THE MAIN VALVE AND ALLOW OPENING OF SAID MAIN VALVE, SAID OPERATING MEMBER BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM PILOT VALVE OPENING POSITION, MEANS FOR BIASING SAID MEMBER AWAY FROM PILOT VALVE OPENING POSITION, A LINKAGE HAVING AN ACTUATING STEM ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND ADAPTED UPON MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER TOWARD PILOT VALVE OPENING POSITION, A PRESSURE CHAMBER ADAPTED TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE PRESSURE IN THE INLET CHAMBER OF SAID MAIN VALVE AND HAVING A MOVABLE PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEMBER THEREIN ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO A BUILDUP OF PRESSURE IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID LINKAGE BEING INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEMBER TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SAID STEM AWAY FROM PILOT VALVE OPENING POSITION IN RESPONSE TO A BUILDUP OF PRESSURE, MEANS BIASING SAID ACTUATING STEM TOWARD PILOT VALVE OPENING POSITION, SAID LINKAGE HAVING A RELEASABLE CONNECTION WITH SAID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEMBER CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT MOVEMENT OF SAID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEMBER IN SAID ONE DIRECTION PRODUCES MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER OPPOSITE TO THE PILOT VALVE OPENING DIRECTION WHILE, UPON RELEASE OF SAID CONNECTION, SAID LINKAGE PRODUCES REVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER UNDER THE BIAS OF SAID MEANS AND IN THE PILOT VALVE OPENING DIRECTION, AND MEANS RETARDING MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATING MEMBER AND SAID LINKAGE. 